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GO program student gets South Korean job
28 January 2010
N.C. Prinsloo knows he’s in good company as a former school captain of Nambour State High, where Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan also graduated with accolades.
But N.C., a 22-year-old University of the Sunshine Coast graduate, is launching his government career in South Korea.
“I’m a bit of a nerd, I like history and politics,” said N.C., who finished his USC arts degree in December after majoring in international relations.
On Thursday 11 February he is off to the city of Daegu in South Korea after gaining a 12-month job contract.
“It’s a very big opportunity for someone who’s just graduated,” said the South-African born student, who also was a USC ambassador.
“I’ll be working for the Provincial Office of Education, teaching English in schools, but I’m also hoping to get involved in the international relations side.”
N.C.’s successful job application followed six months in South Korea last year, when he studied at Kyungpook National University as part of USC’s Global Opportunities (GO) program.
“It had the best politics and law faculties and although I speak a couple of European languages, I wanted to go to Asia for something different,” he said.
N.C. was grateful to receive two scholarships, from the Australian Government and the South Korean university, to cover living expenses and spending money. Kyungpook is a partner institution with USC.
“Studying in a city where very little English is spoken was amazing,” he said. “I studied international trade law and Korean politics, language and history.”
N.C. also completed an internship in the international relations department of the Daegu local government.
”I was given quite a lot of responsibility and did volunteer work with UNESCO and other companies,” he said.
“I helped with translations and spell-checking but also joined in general business negotiations. It was interesting to be involved in organising for the 2011 World Athletics Championships to be held in Daegu.”
– Julie Gatehouse